Cow-tail holder



(No-Model.)

J. M. FERGUSON. 00W TAIL HOLDER.

No. 417,715. Patented Dec. 24, 1889.

N. PETERs Plinlo-Ulhagrapher, Wzshingiom me UNITED STATES".

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MILFORD FERGUSON, OF CHARLES CITY, IOWVA.

COW-TAIL HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,715, dated December 24, 1889.

Application filed August 22, 1889. $erial No. 321,608. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MILFORD FER- GUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charles City, in the county of Floyd and State of Iowa, have invented a new and nseful.Oow-Tail Holder, of which the'following is a specification.

This invention has relation to cow-tail holders adapted to grip a cows tail and maintain the same against switching during the operation of milking; and among the objects in view are to provide a cheap simple device easily applied to and disconnected from the cows tail, and provide the same with means for the connection with one end of a chain or string, whereby the holder may be connected with the leg of the milking-stool or other fixed object, all as will hereinafter appear, and be particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of my holder applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the same in detail, the jaws being partially opened; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the pivot of the jaws.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I form the same in two opposite sections or levers 1, each of which is a duplicate of the other, and preferably cast the levers in a single piece. Each of the levers 1 terminates at its rear end in a handle2,and has its forward end inwardlybent or offset, as at 3, and terminates in a transverse serrated jaw 4. Intermediate the ends of the handles and the jaws are right-angularly-disposed inwardly-tending lugs 63, the ends of which are shouldered upon opposite sides, so that the lugs of one jaw fit and pass by those of'the other jaw, and the two jaws are perforated, as at 7, and embraced by a U-shaped clip 8, having perforations 9 near its ends, which register with the perforations 7 of the lugs, and through the perforations 7 and 9 is passed a pivot 10, which pivotally connects the two levers and the clip. Intermediate the jaws and the lugs is formed upon the inside of each lever an integral hook 12, and having its terminals connected with each of the hooks is a coiled spring 13, which serves to maintain the jaws in anormally-closed position. A like chain or rope 15 is connected with the clip 8 and has its opposite end connected with the milking-stool or other fixed object.

To apply the invention, it is simply necessary to compress the handles toward each other, and thus open the jaws for the reception of the lower shredded tip of the aninials tail, and the same will be prevented from being switched into the face of the milker.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- I The combination, with the opposite levers terminating at one end in transverse jaws and at their opposite ends in handles, and intermediate their ends in inwardly-disposed shouldered lugs, and provided with integral opposite hooks near their jaws, of a coiled spring connecting the hooks, a U-shaped clip embracing the lugs and having a perforation aligning with those in the lugs, a rivet passing through the perforation in the clip and lugs, and a chain or rope having one end con-- nected with the clip, substantially as specified.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MILFORD FERGUSON.

\Vitnesses:

S. F. FARNHAM, J. H. OWEN. 

